Girls, swimmers hit pool for breast-cancer research

Published 7:00 pm, Tuesday, July 11, 2006

It looked like a swim meet was under way at Memorial Glen Pool early June 28. However, the 50 young swimmers were participating in a breast-cancer research fundraiser organized by five young girls.

Sisters Abby and Hannah Higgins and their three friends Hudson Meredith, Meg Mathias and Megan Copeland organized Kids Against Breast Cancer in honor of the Higgins’ aunt Julie Singhaus, who died two years ago after fighting the disease for 14 years.

“Our aunt had gone through it and it was really hard for her,” Abby said. “We think we should help other people to have an easier time going through it.”

The goal was to swim as many laps as possible. Ten-year-old Hannah swam 130 and nine-year-old Abby swam 87. With sponsorships at 50 cents and $1 per lap, it all added up.

Although the participants are still collecting money from sponsors, Kate Higgins, Abby and Hannah’s mother and Singhaus’ sister, estimated they will raise $6,000.

The girls plan to donate the funds to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, which funds research grants and supports education, screening and treatment projects around the world.

Members of local swim teams, the girls advertised the event at the pool and encouraged their teammates to join them. Harrison Little and Robert Chuchla volunteered as lifeguards for the event.

Higgins and the girls were surprised by the number of participants and sponsors. They never imagined such a turnout.

“My favorite part was standing here at 8:30 and hearing all of the cars drive up,” Kate Higgins said.

She said her sister’s long battle with the disease and subsequent death had a huge effect on her daughters. “I’m extremely proud of them,” she said. “They are the push behind all of this.”

Abby and Hannah’s quest began shortly after their aunt’s death when they began operating lemonade stands to raise funds for research, but several months ago they decided to go to a level higher and asked their friends to help.

For 10-year-old Copeland, friendship was not the only motivation to participate. Her grandmother has breast cancer. She said she hopes the money they raised can help researchers discover better medications. The girls hope to have another event at the pool next year, at which they want to double the number of participants. They also want to encourage other children to host KAB events at their own pools.

“We hope it continues and that we can raise a lot of money and find a cure,” said Meredith, 9.